USS CARR Families and Friends –
I heard positive feedback regarding last week’s FRG meeting. We will have the Fleet and Family Support Center meet Carr in Mayport and ride us back to provide tailored training to our Sailors. After being gone for several months it is not easy to reintegrate back into family life. The training we will all undergo will address relationships, stress management, responsible use of alcohol, and driving safety.
Day 132 – Sunday, October 23rd
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We are at sea escorting the same drug carrying vessel that we have been with for over a week. There is a Coast Guard vessel on the way to take the guard duty from us and allow us to transit to another area.
Day 133 – Monday, October 24th
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A Coast Guard cutter arrived and we headed off for Colon, Panama to get fuel, food, and supplies.
Bravo Zulu to the following Sailors:
– Congrats to GSE3 Dale Robinson, Carr’s Food Service Attendant of the Month for October 2011.
– Great job to EM3 Jereme Fuller, EM2 Carl Nilo, and EM3 Andrew Toth for troubleshooting and repairing the flight deck lighting system, allowing Carr to continue to support Helicopter Operations in support of our counter illicit trafficking mission.
– FC2 Stephen Stout saved the day by tirelessly troubleshooting and repairing one of our radars. After a full day of work and watch, he quickly responded to the casualty and used his expert troubleshooting skills to isolate and repair the fault.
Day 134 – Tuesday, October 25th (Brief stop in Colon, Panama)
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Although the Sea and Anchor detail to Colon, Panama was short, the channel was very narrow and the pier was small (exacerbated by having another ship on the pier that we didn’t know was going to be there). Once we were done with our supply stop, the tugs helped back us out of the channel (there was not enough room to turn around until we got out into the turning basin) and headed back to sea.
Great job to LS2 David Burke, LS2 Lawrence Stubblefield, LSSN Dewayne Gilkes, and LSSN Justin Evans who received, sorted, and distributed 3000lbs of stores and parts received during our visit to Colon. These parts were essential to repairing mission critical equipment and keeping Carr ready to execute our mission.
This week we also ran out of soda – the lifeblood of many on board. Thanks to SH1 Jason Zarcone, SH2 Justin Howard, and SHSN Ulises Hernandez who received and struck below approximately 12,000 cans of soda. Thanks to our entire crew for assisting in moving stores.
Day 135– Wednesday, October 26th (Arrived Cartagena, Colombia)
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We finally arrived at our first liberty port since arriving in the Caribbean! As always the first order of business was topping off fuel and getting additional supplies, but the majority of the crew had the opportunity to experience Cartagena. Some how we have a knack for picking the wettest time of the day to arrive – we experienced a torrential downpour during the transit with visibility reduced to less than a mile. Thanks to the professionalism and the skill of our Bridge watchteam and Deck Division personnel, we anchored safely in the inner harbor.
Thanks to all of Engineering Department for yet another safe and efficient refueling operation. GSM2 Jesus Santana and GSM2 Nathan Woodruff are among a long list of Engineers who adhered to published procedures to get the job done – refueling is a complex process that requires attention to detail and continuously sounding tanks to ensure that don’t spill a drop of fuel.
Great job to CWO2 Dilson Ramirez, ENC Shawn Etheridge, HT1 Joshua Linton, EM2 Carl Nilo, EN2 Chris Collier, EM3 Jereme Fuller, EN3 Blake Petenbrink, EN3 Joseph Lawhorn, EN3 Joshua Young, and EN3 Elvin Lugo …they all worked long hours to make our replacement RHIB ready for operation. Their dedication and superb technical knowledge allowed them to identify multiple problems and restore the boat to operation.
Day 136 – Thursday, October 27th (Cartagena, Colombia)
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Our crew once again executed liberty with no liberty incidents – your Sailors have demonstrated exemplary performance on the beach throughout this deployment…great job!
When we arrive in port, one of the first things that has to be done is to hook up a sewage connection – typically a sewage barge. Thanks to HT3 Isaac Boston for safely rigging up and supervising the safe transfer of our sewage waste. Similar to refueling, this connection requires procedural compliance and coordination.
While close to shore we can not make water due to concerns of drawing in contaminated water, as a result we need to receive water from a shore connection or barge (as we did today at anchor). EN3 Joshua Young and all of Auxiliaries Division kept our potable water tanks topped off by taking on water twice a day while at anchor. Additionally, our Sailors are responsible for testing and treating the water to ensure our crew does not get ill from contaminated water.
Day 137 – Friday, October 28th (Departed Cartagena, Colombia)
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We got underway in yet another rain storm with restricted visibility!! Great job to our Anchoring detail, who stood out on the forecastle toughing it out in the pouring rain doing what they do best. BM3 Travis Gardner led the anchoring team as they safely retrieved our anchor and stowed it for sea despite the horrible environmental conditions. Job well done to BM3 Melvin Cooks, BM3 Eric Jones, BMSN Michael Dimick, BMSN Zachary Chambers, SN Austin Holcomb, BMSN Edem Atohoun, SN Augustine Otwori, SN Keith Green, and SN Bilal Barnes,.
Once underway we took the opportunity to hold a flight deck ceremony to commemorate the Battle of Leyte Gulf (23-26 October, 1944). ITC Joseph Wert did a superb job in organizing the event. This historic naval battle is even more significant for Carr, because our namesake Paul Henry Carr was killed during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. We took the time to not only remember the significance of the naval battle, but the Sailors, Officers, and Chiefs who gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending our freedom. Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the junior Sailor, Officer, and Chief tossed signed covers overboard in memory of the fallen.
Good job to DC1 Raul Beltran who completed an extensive survey of Carr’s Repair Lockers, at the expensive of some liberty in Cartagena. His efforts Carr directly contributed to the high level of Damage Control readiness we have enjoyed throughout this deployment. His dedication will surely pay off for Carr in the event of an actual emergency.
Day 138 – Saturday, October 29th
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Not much to report today, we are at sea operating our helicopter and searching for drug runners.
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CARR Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FFG52
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CARR FAMILY READINESS GROUP http://www.facebook.com/USSCARRFRG
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Until next week, stay safe Carr Family and Friends – Happy Halloween!
CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination”
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